SHARE

Unions rally in Colorado, clash with tea party

DENVER — Several hundred union members who rallied outside Colorado’s Capitol today found unwelcome rivals in a group of tea party supporters who want to see public unions busted.

More than 500 union members gathered to show support for embattled public union members in Wisconsin. Several dozen flag-waving tea party members set up a rival rally on a nearby sidewalk, and the two groups shouted insults at each other.

Colorado State Troopers stood between the two groups, and the protests remained peaceful except for some angry words.

The union members were joined by Democratic Rep. Ed Perlmutter, who wore jeans and a firefighter T-shirt. He said he wanted to support Wisconsin union workers.